York University Blocks Abortion Debate between Pro-Abortion Atheist and Pro-Life Worker

he York University Student Centre cancelled the debate, entitled "Abortion Debate: A Woman's Right or a Moral Wrong?" a mere two hours before it started. As a result, dozens of students were turned away at the door. The debate was to have been between pro-abortion atheist Michael Payton from Freethinkers, Skeptics and Atheists at York, and Jojo Ruba of Calgary's pro-life Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. It was intended to be a balanced debate on abortion, moderated by the York Debating Society.

"We would not have a debate over something that is racist or homophobic," said Gilary Massa, vice-president equity of the York Federation of Students. "This debate is sexist … when it comes to free speech there is a line. … They are talking about taking away women's rights. We would not allow a debate asking if women beating should be allowed."

"I was told in a meeting by members of the York Federation of Students that debating abortion is comparable to debating whether a man should be allowed to beat his wife," said Margaret Fung, President of Students for Bioethical Awareness, an official York University club and co-sponsor of the debate. "They said that there is freedom of speech to a limit, and that abortion is not an issue to debate. They demanded that the event not take place and shut us down."

Fung was present with Jeremy Salter, Executive Director of the YFS, Fuad Abdi, VP of Operations of the YFS and the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Student Centre, and Amir Mohareb, President of the York Debating Society when the debate was shut down.

"The Student Centre has made sure that anyone with different views than theirs can't express themselves, even if both points of view are represented," said Fung. "They don't seem to understand that we live in a free, democratic society. A university is supposed to be a marketplace of ideas not a propaganda machine for political extremists."

The stupidity being displayed at this "university" is quite frightening. These are the same people who insist on "diversity", yet will do anything in their power to shut down and vilify opposing opinions.

These "students" should learn the facts about abortion before showing the rest of the world how ridiculous they are. Abortion is both sexist and racist. I have to assume they're not literate enough to understand those facts.